Multiunit tank car



Sept. 6, 1932. v. WILLOUGHBY MULTIUNIT TANK CAR Filed June 11, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l 5 mfYm mm W Z y r p. m /V Sept. 6, 1932. v. WILLOUGHBY MULTIUNIT TANK CAR Filed June 11, 1931- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 h n fm m .1 M. f w. 5 0

Sept. 6, 1932. v. WILLOUGHBY MULTIUNIT TANK CAR Filed Jun 11, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 v. WILLOUGHBY MULTIUNIT TANK 'C'AR Sept. 6, 1932.

Filed'uune 11, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet Patented Sept. 6, 1932 era VIGTORCWIELUUGHBY, OF RIDGE\VOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR. 'I O AMERICAN CAR AND'FO'UNDRY GOMIPANY OFNEW YORK, 11135., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MIILTIUiiI'r mam: can

Application filed. June 11,

'llhisinvention relates to tank cars andmore particularly, multiple unit tank cars, especiall'y ofthe. type wherein the tanks are mounted longitudinally, and. are. adapted. to be individually removed or. replaced without disturbing. other. tanks in case it is desiredto distributethe. tanks to customers.

One object ofthe invention is to provide an iinproved'multiple unitv tank car wherein "10 anumber of tanks may be supported indel pendently ofeach other andiyet be disposed within, the permissible side limits'of a car andstillhave the center. ofgravity of the car maintainedat va. relatively low point so that -i5in1all1suhstantial respectsthe balance of the carwilLbe comparable'to the single unit .tankcars. I

Afilitlitl' andmore specific object of the inVention-isto dispose a pair of lower tanks,

' '2 one ,atieach side of the car, andianother. tank or, pair. offtanks above andbetweenthe lower tanks, all of which are sufiiciently supported independently ofeaeh other sothat one tank does notrest upon .or' be supported by. another 2. 'tankgalthougliin certain. specific'modifications supporting contactbetween tanks may be. effected: to a. limited extent whilestill utilizing the improved tanksupporting means otthis invention. In this way maximum tank S0 capacity, is obtained for. a multipleunitcar without endangeri-ngthe car with ahigh centerofgravityjor. unstable anchoring 0r fastening .ithetanks.v v

Another object off-the. invention is to providean improved under-frame which is adapt- 'drawing Whel'elni through an underframe. having a floor.

car.

i931. Serial 'No. 543,590.

This invention also contemplates the provision of a railway car adapted tosupport a plurality of longitudinally extending tanks; said car including an underirame, anda spuperstructure secured thereto and including a iramework adapted to support a row of tanks longitudinally, ofthe underframe, on

each side of the central longitudinal axis of the car.

Other obgects and advantages will beniore a following description of the accompanying Fig. l is airagmentary side elevationot a multiple unit tankcar' embodyingtheinvention, parts of which are broken away to show details of construction,

Fig. 2' is aplan view' ofFig; 1, parts of which are'also broken away'to' show details of construction.

Fig. Sis an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on the l.ine. 8 3.of Fig. .2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary. side elevationlook- .ing at Fig. 8 from the left with thelower ,outer tank removed, parts also being broken away to show other. parts.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one corner portion of the underframe. with the tanks removed,

this view showing only that. portion of the underfr'ame to one side ofthe center. sill.

F ig. 6 is a plan view of a casting for anchoring the tanks looked at in the direction of the arrow 6-in Fig. V

Fig.- 7 is a vertical transverse section In the drawings which illustrate the invention there is provided, as. shown in Figs. 3 and .Zcenter sills 22,.si de sills 3, bolster diaphragms 44 which with the topand bottom bolster cover. plates Sand 6 forma conventional car underframe; In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the elementF which serves as a top bolster cover plate is intended to withstand the. usual stresses imposed upon such element ofa bolster and extends entirely across the carand substantially from end sill to end sill forming a floor for the carand' developingin this instance a conventionalfiat Extending transversely of; the? under 1 frame from side sill to side sill at each endof-i;

so pparent to those skilled in the art frointhe the car are angles 6', to the vertical legs of which are attached vertically extending posts 7, which extend upwardly above the under frame sufficiently high to support a running board 8 as best shown in Fig. 8. Intermediate extend upwardly far enough to contribute to the support of the running board 8 in the same manner as posts 7. Upon he underframe or fiat car thus provided a supporting framework is employed to carry a plurality of tanks in such manner that the load imposed by such tanks and other lading shall be transmitted to the center sills. In addition to this the tanks just referred to are positioned at alevel considerably above the underframe so that tanks at a lower level may be carried near the outer side edges of the car, but in such manner that a large percentage of the load imposed by said outer tanks and their lading shall be transmitted through the bolsters and cross bearers directly to the center sill which with its top cover plate 13 extends from end to end of the car structure. To support the tanks in the upper level a superstructure is built onto the underframe, said superstructure comprising a framework which includes plate girders connected to the upper sides of the bolsters and cross bearers with stiffening means hereinafter specifically described for reinforcing said plate girders. For convenience, the framework comprising the plate girders and associated parts is hereinafter referred to as the upper tank supporting means, while the cross bearers and body bolsters comprise in effect the lower tank supporting means, the whole, however, being connected to and forming a part of the underframe so that in one aspect of the invention the underframe is provided with offset tank supporting portions, one ofiset portion being at the level of the cross bearers and the other at the higher level of the upwardly extending framework including the plate girders and their immediately associated parts. Specific means by which actual supporting con tact is made for the outer lower set of longitudinal tanks and the upper inner set of longitudinal tanks is shown to advantage in Fig. 3.

The superstructure which is more specifically described hereinafter provides for supporting a plurality of tanks on each side of the central longitudinal axis of the car and in longitudinal planes within or inside of vertical planes defined by the central longitudinal axes of the lower tanks, all of which will be apparent from the description to follow.

Referring now to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the superstructure comprises a framework including plate girders arranged on each side of the central longitudinal axis of the car and formed of plates 48 (see Fig. 2) which extend between the angles 6 at each end of the car. These plates 48 constitute the web portions of the plate girders and their lower edges are secured to the bottom chords 3?, angles in the instance shown, riveted or otherwise secured to the car underframe as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The upper edges of the plates 48 are outwardly flanged. as at 48 and constitute the top chords of the plate girders, and to these top chords or flanges 48 channels 46 are riveted or otherwise fastened, the channels in the instance shown, being inverted and facing diagonally inward toward the center sills 2. Secured to the inner flanges of the channels 46 are a plurality of connector plates 47 which rest upon and are secured to the horizontal flanges of angles 16, secured to the webs of posts 12 by fasteners 20 and having portions thereof downwardly bent as at 16 to lie against the inner surfaces of the plates 48 and to be fastened thereto in any suitable manner by rivets. The lower ends of portions 16 of the angles 16are connected by rivets 49a to gussets 26 and the latter are securely fastened as by rivets to the car underframe as shown in Fig. 3. The portions 16 of the angles 16 are also connected to the bottom chords 37 of the plate girder by suitable fasteners such as the rivets 49.

The superstructure also includes inner tank supporting members 21 comprising Z-sections arranged on each side of the posts 12. These members 21 are of substantially the same length as the plate portions 48 and are secured to and supported by brackets 18 connected to the posts 12. In practice it has been found desirable to arrange the brackets 18 ad acent the brackets and angles together by stumble fasteners such as the rivets 20 which serve only as a connecting means for the brackets and angles but also as fasteners for connecting the said angles and brackets to posts 12.

In Fig. 3 the upper tanks are designated at 40 and the Z-sections 21 constitute inner supports for these tanks; the latter being arranged on each side of the central longitudinal axis of the car and being also supported by cradles 43, the latter serving also as anchor castings to prevent longitudinal shifting of the tanks. Intermediate the ends of the car the cradles 43 are formed to provide upper and lower pairs of curved seats 44 (see Fig. 6) adapted to receive the 16 and to connect the neveuse adjae'ent'end portions of upper tankslO and lower tanks 39, respectively; Obviously at the ends ofthe car these double cradles are.

' not required and hence the end cradles coinprise single upper and lower seats 414 (see Fig.- The cradles 43 are secured to the channels d6 and are preferably arranged ad- 'ui-iderframe and particularly for furnishing additional connections between the superstructure and the underit'raine the plate gird- 91's are connected to the cross bearers '9 by means of gussets 88 as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

Secured to the underfranie adjacent the bottom chords 37 of the plate girders forming a part of the superstructure are cradle members whichextend longitudinally of the car and which are riveted as shown at "to t'he side sills 3. lower tanks 39 while belng suppor 51 to the underfrarne. The'lower tanks 89 are supported by these cradle members and by cradle members 52 riveted as at 53 It is to be no ten by the cradle ineinbers 50 and 52 have their ends arranged in the vcurved seats 44 of the cradle menibers 43 and the tanks 39 are thus restrained against longitudinal shifting. Pivr 'otally connected as at 52 to the cradle incinbers 52 are tank bands 58 the upper ends of which are flanged to provide ears receive eye bolts 60, the free ends of'which latter are adapted to engage the hooked encs' 61 of curved rods 61 anchored by bolted con -nections 62 in the, channels 46. The eye bolts are provided with adjusting nuts for an obvious purpose.

For securing the upper tanks l0 against vertical-shitting and to retain thorn n their seats 21 and 43, tank bands 62are provided which are connected to band anch rs 63 rive-ted to an in erted channel $6 which tends from end to end of the car between the eridqlaosts"? and is supported by and connected to said posts 7 and posts 12 by gussets 64 riveted to the posts and channel 66 as shown at 65. The free ends of the bands 62 upwardly flanged as at to receive eye bolts 60 having curved ends which engage the hooked ends 69 of curved rods 69, siini- "st'ance shown a plurality of lar to he rods 61 and connected to the channels 46 by bolted connections similar to those indicated at 62. The eye bolts 60 which connect'the bands 62 and rods 69 are also provided with adjusting nuts for an ob ious purpose.

This car provides a running board 8 which is ji're'fterably arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the under name and which extends between the end laddersE and which comprises; in theinlonnfitudinally Z-shaped "extending planks H supported by posts '7 2 secured to the running board 8.

above the firstunentioned row.

58 which brackets G secured to the channel 66. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, ahand rail 0 is provided which extends between the end ladders E and is supported intermediate its ends by From the above description is believed that t e construction of the car of the present invention will'be fully apparen to those skilled in the art. It is to be noted that a plurality of tanks are supported by the:

ingarranged end to end rows,'.one .row

being arranged adjacent the si e sill 3 while the other row is supported at an elevation The individual tanks in each row are individually supported and adjacent ends of adjacent tanks are spaced from each otherand intermediate adjacent tanks the castings llserv to prevent longitudinal shifting of the tanks. It also obviousthat any desired tank may be removed from the un'derfraine independently of and without 'd"sturbing any other tanln it is believed that in a car of the type shown and described herein the load is 'syinmetrically arranged and distributed. The car of the present invention al o provides the necessary safety devices such as hand rails and running board. r i

The drawings herein illustrate one embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood they are iorillustrative purposes only and various changes in the form and proportions of the constru io'n niay be made within the scope of the appen' ed CllllllS without departing from the'sp of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple unit tank car having a plurality of lower tanks an upper tank, means 'for supporting said upper tank above and between said lower tanks, and means whereby each "tank is longitudinall anchored independently of the other.

2. A multiple unit tank car comprising a pair of lower tanks disposed with their longitudinal axes lengthwise of the car and transversely spaced from each other, an upper tank having its longitudinal axis also disposed lengthwise, of the car, and means for supporting said upper tank above and between said lower tanks and independently thereof.

8. A inultiple unit tank car'co'inp'rising a pair of lower tanks disposed with their longitudinal axes lengthwise of the car and transversely spaced from each other, an upper tank having its longitudinal also disposed lengthwise of the car, means for supporting "said upper tank above and between said lower ta'nksyand means fear-individually holding said tanks whereby they i. A multiple'unit tankcar -c 0n1prisinig an 1:

under-frame having means providing oil'set tank supporting levels, a pair of transversely spaced tanks supported by said underirame at one of said levels, tanks supported by said underframe at another of said levels and arranged respectively on each side of the longitudinal center line of the underframe, posts projecting upwardly from said underframe, and a running board supported by said posts.

5. A multiple unit tank car comprising an under-frame having means providing oilfset tank supporting levels, a pair of transversely spaced tanks carried at the outside of said car at one of said levels, a plurality of tanks disposed inwardly of and above said outer tanks and carried at the other level, posts projecting upwardly from said underframe between said upper tanks, and a running board carried by said posts.

6. A multiple unit tank car comprising an underframe having means providing offset tank supporting levels, a pair of transversely spaced tanks carried at the outside of said car and at one of said levels, a plurality of tanks disposed inwardly and above said outer tanks and carried at the other level, posts projecting upwardly from said underframe between said upper tanks, bands for holding said upper tanks, and means associated with said posts for anchoring said bands.

7. A multiple unit tank car comprising a center sill and side sills, cross bearers between said sills, longitudinally extending cradles disposed at the outer ends of said cross bearers, tanks supported in said cradles lengthwise of said car, means supported by said cross bearers and center sill and projecting upwardly between said tanks, longitudinally extending cradles supported by said upwardly extending means adjacent the central portion thereof, other cradles also carried by said upwardly extending means, and tanks carried by the cradles of said upwardly extending means.

8. A multiple unit tank car comprising an underframe having longitudinally extending cradles carried near both sides of the underframe, tanks carried by said cradles, said underframe having means projecting upwardly between said tanks, longitudinally extending cradles carr'ed by said latter means.

near the center thereof, tanks supported on said latter cradles, and anchor means carried by said upwardly extending means and disposed between and adapted to engage the end portion of the adjacent lower and upper tanks.

9. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe having a plurality of pairs of tank support ing elements arranged on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car for supporting a plurality of tanks on each side of thelongitudinal center line of the car, certain of said pairs of tank supporting elements being arranged in 'a plane above the remain der of the elements.

10. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe having a plurality of pairs of tank supporting elements arranged on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car for sup. porting a plurality of tanks on each side or the longitudinal center line of the car, certain of said pairs of tank supporting elements being arranged in a plane above the remainder of the elements, and independent clamping means for holding each of the tanks in position.

11. A multiple-tier multi-unit tank car comprising an underframe, cradle members for supporting a plurality of tanks on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car with their longer dimensions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car, and other cradle members arranged at an elevation above the first-named cradle members and on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car for supporting a plurality or" tanks between said first-mentioned tanks.

12. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe, means on the underframe for supporting tanks on each side of the longitudinal center line of the underframe, and other supporting means carried by the underframe for supporting tanks on each side of the longitudinal center line of the underframe at an elevation above the first-named tanks.

13. A multiple-tier 1nultiunit tank car comprising an under-frame having longitudinally arranged cradle members forming longitudinal seats for supporting tanks with their longer dimensions parallel to the 1011- gitudinal axis of the car, an upper series of tan rs supported above and between the firstmentioned tanks and arranged on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car, and independent means for clamping each of the tanks to its supporting members.

14:. A multiple-tier multi-unit tank car comprising an underframe having longitudinally arranged cradle members forming longitudinal seats for supporting tanks with their longer dimensions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car, an upper series of tan {S supported above and between the firstmentioned tanks and arranged on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car, and independent means for clamping each of the tanks to its supporting members, said supporting means for the tanks being so arranged that any desired tank may be re moved from the underframe without disturbing any other tank.

15. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe, cradle members on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car for supporting tanks adjacent the sides of the underframe with their longitudinal axes arranged longitudinally with respect to the ity of tanks positioned end to end adjacent car, and a running board arranged above the each side of the underframe, a tank supporting element on each side of and adjacent the longitudinal center line of the car, said supporting elements extending longitudinal ly of the car in a horizontal plane above said cradles and being adapted to support upper rows of tanks between the first-named tanks.

17. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe, cradle members secured to the underframe for supporting tanks on each side of the longitudinal center line-of the car with their long axes longitudinal to the car, and a V tank supporting superstructure supported by the underframe between the said cradle members for supporting tanks between said firstnamed tanks at a higher elevation and on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car.

18. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe, tank supporting members carried by the underfrarne, tanks retained in said members, said members being arranged to hold the tanks with their longer dimensions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car and in sets. certain of said sets being arranged between and at an elevation above the remainder and all of said sets being arranged outside of the longitudinal center line of the car.

19. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe, tank supporting members carried by the underframeq tanks retained in said members, said members being arranged to hold the tanks with their longer dimensions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car and in sets, certain of said sets being arranged between and at an elevation above the remainder and all of said sets being arranged outside of the longitudinal center line of the tanks and substantiallyin a plane parallel to the longitudinal center line of the car.

20. A multi-unit tank car comprising an underframe, seats supported by the underframe, tanks held in the seats, said seats being arranged to hold the tanks with their longer dimensions parallel with the longitudinal axis of the car and'in sets, each of said sets being arranged outside of the longitudinal center line of the car and the ends of the tanks being spaced apart from each other, and fixed means supported by an underframe part above the lower-most parts of the tanks for restraining the latter against longitudinal shifting.

21. In a multi-unit tank car, an underirarne' having a plurality of lower tanks supported thereon, and means supported by the underframe for holding a plurality of upper tanks above and between said lower tanks and independently of the latter whereby any tank 'may be removed from the underframe without disturbing any other tank.

22. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe having a plurality of lower tanks supported thereon, a superstructure secured to the underirame and arranged between said lower tanks, means on the superstructure for holding a plurality oi upper tanks above and my hand.

VICTOR WILLOUGHBY. 

